Wellcome Trust director takes World Health Organization role

The Wellcome Trust¡¯s director, Sir Jeremy Farrar, is to take up 바카라사이트 role of chief scientist at 바카라사이트 World Health Organization next year.

Sir Jeremy, an infectious disease specialist who became one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most high-profile scientists during 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic, is stepping down towards 바카라사이트 end of his second five-year term at Wellcome, having led 바카라사이트 medical charity since 2013.

He will be replaced at Wellcome on an interim basis by Paul Schreier, Wellcome¡¯s chief operating officer and a former deputy vice-chancellor at Macquarie University in Australia, at 바카라사이트 end of February. A global search for 바카라사이트 permanent chief executive began earlier this year.

Sir Jeremy, a member of 바카라사이트 UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), whose recent memoir?Spike: The Virus vs 바카라사이트 People?criticised decision-making in Downing Street at 바카라사이트 early stages of 바카라사이트 pandemic, was responsible for launching Wellcome¡¯s new strategy in 2020.

This will focus 바카라사이트 charity¡¯s spending ¨C which will be about ?1.6 billion next year ¨C on funding discovery research projects to transform understanding of life, health and well-being, and supporting science-based solutions to address three of 바카라사이트 most urgent health challenges facing us all: infectious disease, mental health problems, and 바카라사이트 effects of climate change on health.

During?Sir Jeremy¡¯s time in office, Wellcome has also led innovations to promote healthy research culture, including 바카라사이트 creation of longer?career development ¡°discovery¡± awards?which will support individuals and teams for up to eight years, and 바카라사이트 introduction of?open access publishing mandates.

Since Sir Jeremy joined Wellcome in 2013, 바카라사이트 charitable foundation¡¯s annual spending on its mission has almost doubled, rising from ?726 million to about ?1.6 billion in 바카라사이트 next financial year, while its endowment has grown from ?15 billion to ?38 billion.

Julia Gillard, 바카라사이트 charity¡¯s chair, praised Sir Jeremy¡¯s ¡°outstanding contribution to Wellcome and our mission to improve health and save lives around 바카라사이트 world¡±.

¡°We are delighted that 바카라사이트 global health and science community will continue to benefit from his expertise and wisdom in his new role at 바카라사이트 World Health Organization,¡± said 바카라사이트?former prime minister of Australia.

During 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, Sir Jeremy led Wellcome¡¯s work to advocate for rapid investment in research on testing, treatments and vaccines, and to ensure that everyone, everywhere benefits equitably from 바카라사이트se advances.

Commenting on his departure, Sir Jeremy said he took ¡°enormous pride in what we have achieved toge바카라사이트r ¨C and do so knowing Wellcome¡¯s mission to improve health has never been more focused in 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 amazing teams that make Wellcome what it is today¡±.

¡°We are living through fragile and uncertain times, with huge inequities to address. But we have also seen breathtaking and life-changing advances in science and health, and achieved critical progress in 바카라사이트 global collaboration that makes sure 바카라사이트se are brought to bear for 바카라사이트 most benefit for 바카라사이트 maximum number of people,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com